Bring Soeharto to international court, demand Irianese students
Bring Soeharto to international court, demand Irianese students
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Students in Jayapura called for
former president Soeharto to be tried at the International Court
of Justice for crimes against humanity.
In a demonstration on Monday, hundreds of students conveyed
their demand to Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numberi, Irian Jaya
Police chief Brig. Gen. Hotman Siagian, Trikora Military
Commander Brig. Gen. Idris Gassing and other authorities.
Spokesman Apolos Sroyer, who read the students' statement,
said, "during his regime, Soeharto's security approach and
development policy caused much suffering."
"Excessive deployment of troops has resulted in human rights
abuses since Irian Jaya was integrated into the Republic of
Indonesia," Apolos said, adding that under Soeharto's development
policy, "Papuans were treated as objects."
A human rights group and church representatives urged the
government on Saturday to establish an independent team to
investigate rights abuses in Irian Jaya, including last year's
incident when security troops opened fire on hundreds of Irianese
who had raised a West Papua independence flag. Authorities said
one man was killed during the incident.
However, the church representatives and the Institute for
Human Rights Studies and Advocacy said on Saturday that at least
eight people were killed and 37 injured, including four who were
disabled, in the Biak shooting.
A civilian died on Friday after being shot in the head. Three
members of the Military Police were detained for their alleged
involvement in the shooting.
The students said: "Papuans have always been intimidated...
and killed like animals, and it continues even today."
The military said separatists instigated the recent violence
by, among other things, holding flag raising ceremonies for an
independent West Papua. The military and police said security
personnel had acted according to procedure.
Separately on Saturday, a number of leading Irianese figures
protested the plan to divide Irian Jaya into three separate
provinces, saying locals had not been consulted about the planned
division. Authorities have cited a number of reasons, including
efficiency, for the planned division of the province.
"If necessary, the government can hold a referendum to find
out if the people agree with the division of the province," John
Rumbiak, a human rights supervisor, said.(43/anr)